Cost-effectiveness of the pharmacological treatment of systemic arterial hypertension [Costo-efectividad del tratamiento farmacológico de la hipertensión arterial sistémica]

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is an important cause of financial burden over the worldwide health budget. Currently there are different drugs for the treatment of SAH, such as those of the therapeutic group of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB II). This group has demonstrated efficacy and an acceptable safety profile. Due to the existence of several treatment options, it is relevant to make an economic evaluation of the different alternatives in order to know the cost-effectiveness relationship among these treatments. This analysis makes a literature review of the ARB II in terms of efficacy, where the primary efficacy endpoint is absolute number of mmHg reduction, with this information a cost-effectiveness analysis was run. The drugs analyzed are: Irbesartan, valsartan, telmisartan, losartan, irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide. The cost-effectiveness relationships were obtained dividing the treatment cost by the efficacy (mmHg reduction). Efficacy and costs must correspond to the same period of time reported at the end of the clinical study. The results show that irbesartan is highly cost-effective compared to the other options because it has the lowest cost-effectiveness ratios for both, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. SAH is a public health problem which can be treated efficiently with the rational use of effective and cost-effective drugs